[35] The current chief of Army is MG Abdolrahim Mousavi. 5 August 2021 EPA Ebrahim Raisi (right) is close to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei Iran's new president, Ebrahim Raisi, has been sworn into office, following his election victory in. Raisi, who has two daughters, is also the son-in-law of Ahmad Alamolhoda, the hardline longtime Friday prayer leader of Mashhad, who has become known for his fiery ultraconservative speeches and highly controversial remarks and ideas. As more women forgo the hijab, Iran's government pushes back Military. In this new system, the jurist oversaw all governmental affairs. They have been heavily involved in suppressing anti-government protests since the disputed presidential election in 2009. Raisi was purportedly a participant in some of the events that forced the shah into exile and set up the new clerical establishment under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. [21] The assembly presented the constitution on October 24, 1979, and Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini and Prime Minister Mehdi Bazargan approved it. Recent calls for reform of the Expediency Council from parliamentary leaders have invoked U.S. President George W. Bush's 2002 State of the Union address, in which he denounced the "unelected few" in Iran who repress Iranians' democratic aspirations. The current President is Hassan Rouhani. FRONTLINE reports from Iraq on the miscalculations and mistakes behind the brutal rise of ISIS. [7][8] The president functions as the executive of the decrees and wishes of the Supreme Leader, including: signing treaties with foreign countries and international organizations; and administering national planning, budget, and state employment affairs. The obvious difference lies in the fact that Iran is an Islamic theocracy, and that one man, the Supreme Leader, exerts ideological and political control over a system dominated by clerics who shadow every major function of the state. Early life and education They presented their arguments by rendering lectures in 1960 and 1963 in Tehran. [37] Article 150 says about Sepah that The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, organized in the early days of the triumph of the Revolution, is to be maintained so that it may continue in its role of guarding the Revolution and its achievements. Also under the control of the Supreme Leader are the foundations (called [32] Major general Mohammad Hossein Bagheri is the current chief of this staff.[33][34]. [16][17] The constitution has been called a "hybrid" of "theocratic and democratic elements". He has authority over the national police and the morality police, whose officers detained Mahsa Amini. . [5] The current lifetime officeholder, Ali Khamenei, has issued decrees and made the final decisions on the economy, the environment, foreign policy, education, national planning, and other aspects of governance in Iran. This page was last edited on 12 July 2023, at 09:03. Legislative Branch Of The Government Of Iran Iran's legislature comprises of two houses the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Guardian Council. Iran election: Hardliner Raisi will become president - BBC News Iran's ruler Reza Shah Pahlavi in 1936 banned the hijab as part of his efforts to mirror the West. The procedures for presidential election and all other elections in Iran are outlined by the Supreme Leader. Robin Wright, a foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and the author of The Last Great Revolution: Turmoil and Transformation in Iran (2000) compares the Assembly of Experts to the Vatican's College of Cardinals, and writes that it is the "most obscure of Iran's many [governing] bodies.". Article 5 states. The Special Clerical Court handles crimes allegedly committed by clerics, although it has also taken on cases involving lay people. The Shah left Iran for exile[9] in January 1979 after large strikes and demonstrations against him and his regime paralyzed the country. Though figures regarding the IRGC's troop strength vary, recent estimates put it at 120,000. BBC: Who Holds Power? While the president has a high public profile, however, his power is in many ways trimmed back by the constitution, which subordinates the entire executive branch to the Supreme Leader. Ayatollah Khamenei also controls the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), which is in charge of internal security, and its volunteer wing, the Basij Resistance Force. In that position, the leader tried to cement his image as a staunch opponent of corruption. The president's powers can also be checked by parliament, which introduces new laws. Now, according to the constitution, the Expediency Council serves as an advisory body to the Supreme Leader, making it one of the most powerful governing bodies in the country, at least in name. Human rights organisations say three years later, just months after the gruelling eight-year Iran-Iraq War ended, he was part of a so-called death commission that oversaw the disappearing and secret executions of thousands of political prisoners. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. the Constitution provides the necessary basis for ensuring the continuation of the Revolution at home and abroad. However, we could observe the great influence of western culture in Iran after a coup d'tat in 1953. Iran officials had initially stayed silent over the growing scandal, . Mohammad-Ali Rajai was elected president on July 24, 1981, and took office on August 2. ", Members of the council are chosen by the Supreme Leader every five years.[30]. producer chat|readings & links|chronology|discussion|video 3.the return to God in the Hereafter, and the constructive role of this belief in the course of man's ascent towards God; In some respects the Supreme Leader's representatives are more powerful than the president's ministers and have the authority to intervene in any matter of state on the Supreme Leader's behalf. Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. New York Times correspondent Elaine Sciolino in her book The Supreme Leader also is commander-in-chief of the armed forces and controls the Islamic Republic's intelligence and security operations; he alone can declare war or peace. [33] Thereby, the Assembly has never questioned the Supreme Leader. [20][26], The last voting took place on 26 February 2016. It is responsible for disclosing conspiracies that sabotage the integrity of the Islamic Republic. The Islamic Republic of Iran was created shortly after the Islamic Revolution. [20], The current President of Iran is Ebrahim Raisi, who assumed office on August, 2021, after the 2021 Iranian presidential election. If the supreme leader wants protests to be ended with force, the president has little choice but to fall in line. the former royal family, banks, and ordinary homeowners," according to It would take tens of billion of dollars -- which Iran simply does not have -- to make it a major conventional military power. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Persian: , romanized:Nem-e jomhr-e eslmi-e Irn, known simply as Nem (Persian: , lit. The Supreme Leader of Iran is selected by an assembly of experts. A sixth round of talks between Iran and world powers is ongoing in Vienna to restore the accord, that, if successful, will lead to lifting US sanctions and scaling down Irans nuclear programme as the country is now enriching uranium up to 63 percent, its highest ever rate. The judiciary branch of Iran's government is largely controlled by the Supreme Leader, who appoints the head of the judiciary, who in turn appoints the head of the Supreme Court and the chief public prosecutor. [24] Candidates for the presidency must be approved by the Council of Guardians, a twelve-member body consisting of six clerics (selected by Iran's Supreme Leader) and six lawyers (proposed by the Supreme Leader-appointed head of Iran's judicial system, and voted in by the Parliament). Some of the major issues are to the government in Islam, the need for the clergy's independent financial organization, Islam as a way of life, advising and guiding youth and necessity of being community. The Supreme Leader of Iran, better known in Iran as the Supreme Leadership Authority, is the highest ranking religious and political leader in the country, and the Head of State of Iran. Bolivia and Iran had a close relationship during the government of President Evo Morales (2006-2019), with then-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visiting Bolivia three times. The President is obliged to sign the legislation approved by the Parliament, or the result of a referendum, after it is forwarded to them and the legal stages are covered, and to forward to the relevant authorities for implementation. The first major demonstrations with the intent to overthrow the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi began in January 1978,[8] with a new, Islam-based, theocratic Constitution being approved in December 1979, ending the monarchy. Iran still belongs to Khamenei", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=President_of_Iran&oldid=1164989587. The Constitution stresses the importance of the clergy in government, with Article 4 stating that, all civil, criminal, financial, economic, administrative, cultural, military, political, and all other statutes and regulations (must) be keeping with Islamic measures;the Islamic legal scholars of the watch council (Shura yi Nigahban) will keep watch over this. Reza Tsaghati, the head of Culture and Islamic Guidance in Gilan Province, was suspended last week after a video allegedly showed him having sex with another man. For observant Muslim women, the head covering is a sign of piety before God and modesty in front of men outside their families. According to Francis Fukuyama, the 1979 constitution is a "hybrid" of "theocratic and democratic elements" with much of it based on the ideas Khomeini presented in his published book Islamic Government: Governance of the Jurist (Hukumat-e Islami). Raisi has promised to tackle inflation, create at least one million jobs per year, build new housing and dedicate special loans to first-time homebuyers who get married, in addition to ushering in a new era of financial transparency and fighting corruption. Before them, Boroujerdi considered as conservative Marja. [16][17][18] The Supreme Leader also directly chooses the ministers of Defense, Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, and Interior, as well as certain other ministries, such as the Science Ministry. In January 1999, MOIS admitted that "rogue" operatives were responsible for the recent murders of dissidents and intellectuals in Iran that had stunned the country. The President automatically becomes the Head of the Supreme National Security Council and the Head of the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution. However, the council rejects the criticism, citing approval of so-called reformists in previous elections. Sadiq Amoli Larijani is the chairman of this council. [15] The Supreme Leader is legally considered "inviolable", with Iranians being routinely punished for questioning or insulting him.[16][17][18][19]. out smaller private competitors who might be more efficient, even as their The head of the judiciary recommends the remaining six, which are officially appointed by Parliament. [4][5] Unlike the executive in other countries, the president of Iran does not have full control over the government, which is ultimately under the direct control of the Supreme Leader. The army is tasked to protect the territorial integrity of Iranian state from external and internal threats and to project power. Established shortly after the The minister of the interior appoints the governors-general (for provinces) and governors (for counties). While Western governments welcomed the election of Mohammad Khatami -- a forward-thinking cleric known for his moderate views -- to the presidency in 1997 (and again in 2001), there are areas of the Iranian power structure over which he has virtually no control, including the armed services. [5], It is currently one of the three governments using the title Islamic republic.[6][7]. Raisi is referred to as a likely successor to the 82-year-old Khamenei when he passes away. Iran official in charge of promoting Islamic values suspended over In Persian Mirrors: The Elusive Face of Iran, Elaine Sciolino of The New York Times writes that MOIS's primary mission has been to eliminate political dissidents within Iran's borders. The same is true of the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps and the Basij. Cabinet meetings are chaired by the President. All of Iran's ambassadors to Arab countries, for example, are chosen by the Quds Force, which directly reports to the Supreme Leader. Members of the guardian council are chosen by the supreme leader. Over the next six years, he added to his experience as a prosecutor in several other jurisdictions. By all measures, the regular army is much better equipped than its other military counterparts in Iran. The Basij have repeatedly quelled dissent in Iran. [47] Prior to the revolution observant Shia Muslims selected their own leading faqih to emulate (known as a Marja'-i taqlid) according to their own decision making. In March 1979, shortly after Ruhollah Khomeini's return from exile and the overthrow of Iran's monarchy, a national referendum was held throughout Iran with the question "Islamic Republic, yes or no?". Raisi carried that theme into his 2021 campaign, in which he made limited promises as it was evident none of the other candidates could mount a serious challenge to his presidency amid a bad economic situation, low turnout and wide disqualification of reformist and moderate candidates. According to Iran's Constitution, the Supreme Leader is responsible for the delineation and supervision of "the general policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran," which means that he sets the tone and direction of Iran's domestic and foreign policies. Mohammad Hadi Zahedivafa. Iran government structure and political parties. | - CountryReports Anything that goes right, Khamenei then can say 'I am the wise leader who put this guy in charge and he made the right policy decisions.' According to the MOIS foundation law, which was passed by Parliament in 1983, the ministry is charged with the "gathering, procurement, analysis, and classification of necessary information inside and outside the country." web site copyright 1995-2014 He is responsible for the day-to-day running of the government and has significant influence over domestic policy and foreign affairs. [39] Although some groups objected to the wording and choice and boycotted the referendum, 98% of those voting voted "yes". Appointment, dismissal, and acceptance of. revolution, the foundations "confiscated billions of dollars in assets of Following the revolution, Raisi joined the prosecutors office in Masjed Soleyman in southwestern Iran. 5.continuous leadership (imamah) and perpetual guidance, and its fundamental role in ensuring the uninterrupted process of the revolution of Islam; Like Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader wears a black turban, which signifies that he is a sayyid a descendent of the Prophet Muhammad. . He held public trials and prosecuted figures close to the government and the judiciary. Inside Iran - The Structure Of Power In Iran | Terror And Tehran Together with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the regular army comprises the Islamic Republic's armed forces. In this referendum, 99.5 present of Iranian voters approved the constitution. -- MINISTRY OF INTELLIGENCE & SECURITY (MOIS). administrative capacity and resourcefulness; convinced belief in the fundamental principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the official, Second in command (after Supreme Leader) of the, Sends and receives all foreign ambassadors, Signature of treaties, protocols, contracts, after the approval of the Islamic Parliament of Iran. He became a very popular role model for Shiites and hoped for the Iranian Revolution to be the first step to a much larger Islamic revolution, transcending Shia Islam, in the same way that Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky wanted their revolution to be a world revolution, not just a Russian one.[48]. The leader continued to rise within Irans judicial system following Khameneis accession to the supreme leadership in 1989. 2.Divine revelation and its fundamental role in setting forth the laws; Originally the constitution required the Supreme Leader to be Marja'-e taqlid, the highest-ranking cleric in the religious laws of Usuli Twelver Shia Islam. It has its own ground forces, navy and air force, and oversees Iran's strategic weapons. In 2017, Raisi ran for president for the first time and became the main candidate against Rouhani, a moderate who championed engagement with the West and Irans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers that lifted multilateral sanctions in exchange for curbs on the countrys nuclear programme. He succeeded Hassan Rouhani, who served 8 years in office from 2013 to 2021.[24]. The incoming president can help relieve the economic burdens through nuclear diplomacy, since any revival of the deal will almost . [24] Members of the Assembly are chosen by bodies (the Guardian Council) whose members are appointed by the Supreme Leader or appointed by an individual (Chief Justice of Iran) appointed by the Supreme Leader. Local government The ostnh (provinces) are subdivided into shahrestnh (counties), bakhshh (districts), and dehestnh (townships). If it deems that a law passed by Parliament is incompatible with the constitution or sharia, it is referred back to Parliament for revision. Iran's new hardline President Ebrahim Raisi sworn in - BBC Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Khomeini had a falling out with his successor Hussein-Ali Montazeri who disapproved of human rights abuses by the Islamic Republic[44] such as the mass execution of political prisoners in late summer and early autumn 1988. According to the Iranian constitution, when the President dies or is impeached, a special provisional Presidential Council temporarily rules in their place until an election can be held. Ali Khamenei has currently around 2000 representatives. The chapter seven (article 100106) of Iran's constitution is about these local Councils. The President must be elected with a simple majority of the popular vote. Iran's hardliners will seek to reinforce a puritanical system of Islamic government, possibly . While he had previously opposed the deal, this time he said he would support it as any other state commitment, but will form a strong government that will be able to steer it in the right direction. are among the biggest economic complexes in the Middle East. much as 40 percent of the economy. In the 1997 presidential election, for example, only four out of the 230 declared candidates made it to the ballot. [40], For public finance and fiscal policy, including budget and public debt, see, General Staff of Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Law Enforcement Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Judicial system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Background and causes of the Iranian Revolution, Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, "The Highest Legal Document: Referendum on the Constitution of the Islamic Republic", "The Gambia: President Adama Barrow pledges reforms", "Francis Fukuyama: Iranian constitution democratic at heart - WSJ", "A Detailed Analysis of Iran's Constitution - World Policy Institute", "Iran's possible next Supreme Leader being examined: Rafsanjani", Large scale turn out at polls in IRI March Majlis Elections, "Hassan Rouhani takes over as Iran president", "Iran election: Counting starts after high turnout", "Assembly of Experts within Iran Political Structure", "Hard-line cleric becomes speaker of Assembly of Expert", "Islamic Republic of Iran Expediency Discernment Council of the System", "If ISIS attacks Baghdad, Iran will intervene militarily, says Iranian general", "The appointment of MG Bagheri as the chief of Staff of Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran", "Iran changes Revolution Guards commander: TV", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Government_of_Iran&oldid=1166006337, This page was last edited on 18 July 2023, at 20:21. The Supreme Leader of Iran is elected by the Assembly of Experts ( , Majles-e Khobregan), which is also the only government body in charge of choosing and dismissing Supreme Leaders of Iran.[25]. Iran's president is the second-highest ranking official in the country, after the supreme leader. The Islamic Republic of Iran Army is the "conventional military of Iran"[35] and part of Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It was established in 1992 by merging the Shahrbani, Gendarmerie and Committee of Iran into a single force, it has more than 60,000 police personnel served under the Ministry of Interior, including border patrol personnel. Raisi was promoted to attorney general of Iran in 2014 and remained in that position until 2016, when he climbed the ladder yet again albeit outside the judicial system this time and was appointed by the supreme leader as the custodian of the Astan-e Quds Razavi, a huge bonyad, or charitable trust, that manages the shrine of Imam Reza and all affiliated organisations. during the absence of the removed Twelfth Imam (may God hasten his reappearance) government and leadership of the community in the Islamic Republic of Iran belong to the rightful God fearing legal scholar (Faqih) who is recognized and acknowledged as the Islamic leader by the majority of the population. According to the constitution of Islamic Republic of Iran, the President of Iran is the chief executive who is elected by direct vote of people of Iran and Supreme Leader of Iran is the highest ranked political and religious head in Islamic Republic of Iran. He is not good for the country, he is not good for you."[30], Seal of the Presidential Administration of Iran, Commentary on the presidency in constitution, Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, referendum to create the Islamic Republic, "HH The Amir, President of Iran Give Joint Press Statements", "Iran's supreme leader floats proposal to abolish presidency", "Council of Guardians | Definition, Role, Selection, & History", "Leader outlines elections guidelines, calls for transparency", "Iran's Khamenei hits out at Rafsanjani in rare public rebuke", "Khamenei says Iran must go green - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East", "Exclusive: Iran pursues ballistic missile work, complicating nuclear talks", "IranWire - Asking for a Miracle: Khamenei's Economic Plan", "Khamenei outlines 14-point plan to increase population", "Iran: Executive, legislative branch officials endorse privatization plan", "Iranian lawmakers warn Ahmadinejad to accept intelligence chief as political feud deepens", "BBC NEWS - Middle East - Iranian vice-president 'sacked', "Did Khamenei block Rouhani's science minister? [14][15] Ten years later, in the summer of 1989, Iranian voters would approve a set of amendments to the Constitution of 1979 in another referendum. Category:Government ministers of Iran - Wikipedia I could always count on deputies in the Parliament, particularly those from obscure villages, to speak their minds.". Iran's Presidential Election: What to Know - Council on Foreign Relations (Article 156 of Constitution)[20], Assembly of Experts or Assembly of Experts of the Leadership is a deliberative body of eighty eight (88) Mujtahids. There, he studied under several prominent scholars, including Khamenei. Though he has nominal rule over the Supreme National Security Council and the Ministry of Intelligence and Security, in practice the Supreme Leader dictates all matters of foreign and domestic security. Supervision over the proper execution of the general policies of the systems. The current president of Iran is Ebrahim Raisi, who assumed office on 3 August 2021, after the 2021 presidential election. It has sided, for the most part, with the conservative Council of Guardians in its disputes with Parliament. Banisadr was impeached on June 22, 1981, by Parliament. According to article 100: In order to expedite social, economic, development, public health, cultural, and educational programmes and facilitate other affairs relating to public welfare with the cooperation of the people according to local needs, the administration of each village, division, city, municipality, and province will be supervised by a council to be named the Village, Division, City, Municipality, or Provincial Council. This post was established by Article 5 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran in accordance with the concept of the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist. [20], The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) according to Constitution is the only radio and television services in Iran. Ebrahim Raisi | Biography, Politician, & Views on Nuclear Deal According to Natasha Lindstaedt, a researcher at the University of Essex, the likely effects of Raisis election on ties with the US are uncertain. Khomeini wrote a letter to the president of the Assembly for Revising the Constitution, which was in session at the time, making the necessary arrangements to designate Khamene'i as his successor, and Article 109 was revised accordingly. [41], According to author Seyyed Vali Nasr, Khomeini appealed to the masses, during the pre-1979 period, by referring to them as the oppressed and with charisma and political ability was tremendously successful. Argentina Demands That Bolivia Explain Its New Defense Agreement With Iran Hassan Tarighat Monfared. Mohammad Hadi Nejad Hosseinian. The "congregation rather than the hierarchy decided how prominent the ayatollah was" thus allowing the public to possibly limit the influence of the Faqih. bonyads) that operate hundreds of companies and, according to some Hassan Rouhani. Most of the (Middle East Review of International Affairs, March 2001), home|introduction|iran and the axis of evil|inside iran|interviews Meanwhile, the 83-million-strong population of Iran is suffering from rampant inflation and high unemployment while the government is running a considerable budget deficit and faces difficulties in handling what has become the deadliest COVID-19 pandemic of the Middle East. In May 2008, the petroleum minister of Iran admitted that the government illegally invested 2 billion dollars to import petrol in 2007. At the top of Iran's power structure is the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who succeeded Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the father of the Iranian Revolution, upon Khomeini's death in 1989. Article 107 in the constitution mentions Khomeini by name and praises him as the most learned and talented leader for emulation (marja-i taqlid). Eight vice presidents serve under the president, as well as a cabinet of 22 ministers. The procedures for presidential election and all other elections in Iran are outlined by the Supreme Leader. [31] According to article 175 of Constitution the appointment and dismissal of the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting rests with the Leader. [23] Presidents can only be reelected once if in a consecutive manner. The Supreme Leader is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and the provisional[citation needed] head of the three branches of the state (the Judiciary, the Legislature, and the Executive). Aug. 5, 2021 Ebrahim Raisi was sworn into office as Iran's new president on Thursday, consolidating the power of conservatives who now control all branches of the Islamic Republic's. The president is required to gain the Supreme Leader's official approval before being sworn in by the Parliament and the Supreme Leader has the power to dismiss the elected president if he has either been impeached by Parliament or found guilty of a constitutional violation by the Supreme Court. Even as the June 24 deadline of a temporary agreement with the International Atomic Energy Organization to keep monitoring activities in Iran in place approaches, negotiators have said the sixth round will not be the final round. When his education came up during the presidential debates, he denied that he has only six grades of classical education, saying he holds a PhD in law in addition to his seminary education.